Dr. Young-Ji Byon, the founding director of Northwestern College’s engineering program, has been selected for training to become an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) program evaluator.
Byon will undergo training to prepare him to effectively assess undergraduate engineering programs at other universities and colleges seeking accreditation from the premier global accrediting organization for engineering and STEM programs. The process will include online training through March and a simulated visit training at ABET headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, in May.
Byon, who joined Northwestern’s faculty in 2023, previously led the successful ABET accreditation process for the civil engineering programs at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s top-100 engineering universities. He has had engineering teaching, administration and research experiences on three continents.
Byon was recommended for ABET program evaluator training by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ABET describes the newly selected evaluator candidates as a very elite group of faculty members who have at least 10 years of engineering experience, a demonstrated interest in improving engineering education, extensive experience with the accreditation process, and strong research credentials.
“I’m honored and excited to have this opportunity, and I look forward to contribute to national and international engineering education and to be guided by the Holy Spirit to ensure that students at Northwestern receive outstanding preparation to become competent engineers with the heart of Jesus Christ,” says Byon.
Byon earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada. With a research focus of intelligent transportation systems—including connected and autonomous vehicles and deep learning-based traffic control—Byon has managed grants totaling $2.8 million and published 55 articles in internationally recognized journals.
Launched last fall, Northwestern’s engineering program includes 15 students and already has 16 new students committed for enrollment next year. Offering concentrations in civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, the program will be eligible to achieve ABET accreditation upon graduation of the first cohort in 2028. Byon’s new role as an official ABET program evaluator, expected to start in June 2025, will also significantly help prepare him for the accreditation and management of Northwestern’s engineering program. A search is currently underway for an additional faculty member in mechanical/civil engineering.
Northwestern’s newly completed 4,000-square-foot Engineering Lab, located just west of the DeWitt Family Science Center, includes three lab areas. It will house 3D printers, rapid prototyping equipment, robotic arms, a wind turbine/tunnel, automated CNC machines, and equipment for strength and materials testing.
